PhD Thesis Understanding the adoption and use of information

340 Pages·2010·25.23 MB·English

ýCD
LIBRARY
Cranfield University
IV
School Management \,
I
of
PhD Thesis
Academic Year 1997/98
of
Mario Caldeira
Understanding
the
adoption and use of
information /information in
technology
systems
small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises:
A in Portuguese industry
study
Supervisor: Prof. John Ward
September 1998
This is in fulfilment
thesis submitted the
partial of requirements
for Degree
the Doctor Philosophy
of of
',, LIBRARY
ý
CRANFIELD \1
UNIVERSITY
-
..
MARIO CALDEIRA
UNDERSTANDING THE ADOPTION AND USE OF
INFORMATION SYSTEMS / INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES:
A STUDY IN PORTUGUESE INDUSTRY
SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
PhD THESIS
Abstract
This factors factors that the levels
research analysed and sets of affect and explain varying
in IS/IT (Information Systems/Information Technology)
the
of success adoption and use of
in Portuguese SMEs (Small Medium-sized Enterprises). The
manufacturing and study set
to fill in knowledge by into the IS/IT in
out a gap not covered previous research area of
SMEs. Existing found be limited due
to to the
work was of relevance or was out-of-date,
IS/IT, did Portuguese
the
rapid evolution of and not address context.
The followed to Seeking to IS/IT it
study a realist approach social enquiry. explain success,
is key
to the the
necessary understand perspectives and social relationships amongst actors
involved in IS/IT Case in
the
process of adoption and use. study research was undertaken
twelve SMEs in the Portuguese industry. A total 56 interviews
operating manufacturing of
IS/IT IS/IT IS/IT The
top
were conducted with managers, managers, staff, and suppliers.
factors identified IS/IT into four
as associated with success were clustered categories
Interrelationships factors
to their
according perceived relevance. amongst were established
firms levels IS/IT
and the common patterns across with similar of adoption and success
were analysed.
This demonstrates that factors determinant to IS/IT
research a combination of were explain
These involvement in
to the the top the
adoption and success. are related of managers
development IS/IT in-house
IS/IT to the
process of adoption and use, and of competencies,
in IS/IT Of importance is the individual in
or associated suppliers. particular presence of an
the firm with IS/IT knowledge, CEO trust, and a view on how to incorporate IS/IT in the
development the firm. In the SMEs that in
strategic of were more successful adopting and
links IS/IT
IS/IT,
using the establishment of co-operative with suppliers was essentially
based the IS/IT than
on personal relationships or ownership of enterprise, rather on
The findings by
theory,
contractual relationships. were validated comparison with existing
found
theory to the the
and resource-based was provide a coherent explanation of results of
empirical work.
Acknowledgements
The by large
this
realisation of research was supported a number of people who
have been
contributed in their particular ways, without whom this research would not
possible.
Foremost, I like John Ward for his
to to
would express my very special gratitude
excellent supervision, commitment and personal support.
I like
to thank:
also would
Vitor Gonsalves, in Lisbon, for
my second supervisor the support given to the research;
Karin Breu, Andy Bytheway, David Grimshaw, Gurpreet Dhillon for
their
and
the
comments on work;
Christine Afflick, Frances Sutherland, Alex Britnell for
the time
and specially and effort
in difficult
the task
spent of proof reading;
The the Sue Vinnicombe, Cliff Bowman, Shai
members of review panels, and
Vyakarnam, for
their
comments and suggestions;
Henrique O'Neill, for data
the time the translations the
and effort spent checking of
in interviews;
the
collected
Professors in Portugal that in in the
and colleagues one way or another collaborated
by by Ana
to the
research, providing access enterprises or giving comments on subject:
Alvaro
Lucas, Almiro de Oliveira, Joao Carvalho, Luis Amaral, Luis Lima, Mario
Romäo, Rodrigo de Magalhäes Carlos Zorrinho Amilcar Gonsalves
and, specially, and
for important
their these
support all over years;
My fellow Cranfield, Ron Tasker, Gilles Spony Richard
students at particularly and
Ford for discussing
the time the the time together
spent subject and all good spent
during Cranfield;
my stay at
The for interest discussing
the time
research participants, access provided, spent, and
the
subject;
JNICT, Junta Nacional de Investigagdo Cienti Tecnolögica, for funding the
Ica e
research;
My Odete, for for her
wife, all the time we were not together and patience with a
husband;
preoccupied
Last, Henrique Teles Marcelino, is longer
a very special thanks to who no amongst us
but be forgotten, for his friendship his to
will never as well as very strong commitment
IS in Portugal, have been
the
established research without whom study would not
possible.
Mario Caldeira
Cranfield, September 1998.
/
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1- Introduction
1.1 Research 1
rationale
1.2 Research 2
context
__ -_-_-- _--_ "__-__
1.3 Research 5
scope and objectives
.......................................... ... .......... _. --.. _.......
1.4 Thesis 8
structure
CHAPTER 2- IS/IT factors in SMEs: A literature
success review
10
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The information / information technology 10
concept of systems
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, (cid:30)__,,,,,, -,,, ,,
2.3 The Small Medium-sized Enterprise (SME)................................... 11
concept of and
..
IS/IT in SMEs,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
2.4 Concepts
and measures of success
(cid:30)_, _, _,,. _ (cid:30)16
framework IS/IT in SMEs 22
2.5 A to
study adoption and success
research
-_-_"______________
2.5.1 The initial framework for IS/IT in SMEs-
analysis of adoption and success
"22
2.5.2 Summary the key literature IS/IT in SMEs 23
of on success and adoption
2.5.3 The framework 29
research
-...... _.. _... _........... .
Internal Context 30
2.6 Factors to the
related
,,,, _- , -, --,,,,, ,,, , ",,,,, "-, -"",, ,
30
2.6.1 Resource
availability
---------------------------------------------------------------------------"----"-------
IS/IT 30
2.6.2 Management towards
perspectives and attitudes adoption and use-----
--
38
2.6.3 IS/IT
competencies
---"-----"-----"-------------------------------------------------------------""-----"-----" -
39
2.6.4 Organisational
structure--(cid:30)-,
--(cid:30),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
42
2.6.5 Power
relationships and user attitudes
............................................................. ..
External Context 43
2.7 Factors to the
related
_(cid:30) , -(cid:30) , ,, - , ,,,, , , "(cid:30) -(cid:30),,,, , , ",,, (cid:30) ,_ ,
43
2.7.1 External
expertise
---------- "--------- --------- ---------------------------------------------------- ------------- --
44
2.7.2 IS/IT
availability
------------------------------------------ . --------- ......... _............. --.......... .... ----- .
45
2.7.3 Business
environment
.................. ""-"-- .............. _..... _........ -- ---"-- ............. -
Process 47
2.8 Factors to the
related
... ............................................................................... .
frameworks in IS/IT development.,,, 47
2.8.1 Stages, techniques
methods, and used
2.8.2 People involved in the IS/IT 48
process of adoption............................................
..
49
2.8.3 IS/IT training
..................................................................................................... .
49
2.9 Factors to the Content
related
49
2.9.1 Type IS/IT....
of
-...... "--- ------------------"-" --- - -................ . --------- ....... .. ------------ ...... -- --
2.9.2 IS/IT
objectives and assumptions.,,
___, _____
51
2.9.3 Evaluation IS/IT
of
51
2.9.4 Time IS/IT
of adoption......................................................................................
2.10 Critique literature IS/IT factors in SMEs 52
of the about success
...............................
CHAPTER 3- Initial fieldwork development the framework
and of research
initial fieldwork
3.1 Objectives
the
of
in initial fieldwork 55
3.2 The the
enterprises studied
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,
55
3.2.1 Firm A
.... ....... ................... "....... ......... ....... -----"-----.......................... ......... ......... -.
57
3.2.2 Firm B
............................................... .................................................. ...........
61
3.2.3 Firm C
............................ ................................................... "--................. . ...... ---"
3.2.4 Firm D
65
3.2.5 Firm E
........................ "---- ................................ ---.............. ------- ....... -------- ----------
67
3.2.6 Firm F
.................. "-------. _.................... ................ ---................... -. --....... ..........
3.2.7 Firm G
.... . ......... .................... "---- .......... -" -- "-... _..................... .. -- -"68
findings from initial fieldwork
3.3 Discussion the the
of
77
3.4 Interdimensional
relationships
....
______________________________________________
77
3.4.1 Context / Process
..........
............................................ ....................................
78
3.4.2 Context / Content
78
3.4.3 Process / Content
........ . ................. "---...... _ ...... _...
..........................................
79
for
initial findings initial
3.5 Summary the and propositions research
of
,,,,. __, ", _, ",,,,,, "
81
in SMEs------------------------------
3.6 The framework to study IS/IT adoption and use
---- . ------
84
3.7 Summary
.........
.......... .............................................................................................
CHAPTER 4- Philosophical perspective and research strate
87
4.1 Introduction...
-"- ---"----"----"------" ................... "---........ ---"...... ----....... -"---..... ------.......... ....... _
87
4.2 Philosophical
perspective
.........
.................................................
..................................
88
4.2.1 Positivism
.......................... .........
...................................................................
89
4.2.2 Interpretivism
..........
.......................................................
......................................
4.2.3 Realism
-----"- ... _.... _. __90
"-----""----------"---.....
............................................
94
4.3 Research
strategy
.........
................................................................................................
94
4.3.1 Selecting
a research strategy
.........
....................................................................
97
interpretive to
4.3.2 The approaches case study research
positivist and
-_,. -",. ........
98
4.3.3 A realist perspective of case study
..... .........
. .................................................
103
4.4 Research Design
........ ........
..........................................................................................
4.4.1 Overall
strategy
............. ".................
105
4.4.2 Case study selection criteria
................................................................... .........
106
4.4.3 Data
collection method.
- -"- .... . ......... ............ - ---.................. ------...
107
4.4.4 Data
analysis method
......... ..........................................................................
4.5 Summary
--... -----"---........ -" .......................... "----....................
CHAPTER 5- Case
studies summaries
5.1 Introduction
..... ......... " --....... _.... - --... .....................................................
Case 1........................................................
study
......................................................
128
5.3 Case 2
study
..
136
3
5.4 Case
study
5.5 Case 4------------------------------------------------"-----..
study
...................... - ........ - ... _
150
5
5.6 Case
study
.........................
---------------"---"--
158
5.7 Case Study 6.......................................................
......................................................
164
7
5.8 Case
study
......................................................
........................................................
170
8
5.9 Case
study
......................................................
........................................................
178
9
5.10 Case
study
......................................................
.......................................................
189
10
5.11 Case
study
......................................................
......................................................
197
11
5.12 Case
study
......................................................
......................................................
203
12
5.13 Case
study
209
5.14 Conclusion
6- Cross-case data
CHAPTER analysis
210
6.1 Introduction
...................................
.............................................................................
210
IS/IT
6.2 A
view about success
214
6.3 The the
structure of analysis
...................................
..................................................
215
by
6.4 Data cluster
analysis
..................................
...........................................................
215
6.4.1 Cluster A (firms 1,2 and 11).........................................
...................................
6.4.2 Cluster B (firms 3 12)
and
....................................
............................................
221
6.4.3 Cluster C (firms 4,5,7 10)
and
...................................
...................................
227
6.4.4 Cluster D (firms 6,8 and 9)
................... "--. --. -"-"--......... ...................................
231
6.4 Cluster
sensitivity analysis
...................................
.....................................................
234
findings from
6.5 Initial cluster analysis
...................................
....................................
234
6.6 Factor
analysis
............ . ----......................... ....................................
236
factors
6.7.1 Situational
............................. ............. ....... .......................
240
factors
6.7.2 Determinant
...... . ..........................
... _.. --... - "" ...............
246
factors
6.7.3 Consequent
..................................... .................. ...................................
factors
6.7.4 Not
significant
251
findings.........................................................
6.8 Analysis the
of
....................................
6.8.1 Summary factor 251
of cluster and analysis
6.8.2 Analysis factor interrelationships____________________ 252
of
__-__
6.8.3 Discussion determinant factors IS/IT 253
the
of of success
6.8.4 Discussion findings in initial 265
the to the
of relation research propositions.
__
6.8.5 Summary 269
and conclusions
................................................................................
CHAPTER 7- Theoretical the findings
validation of
7.1 Introduction 271
7.2 Transaction 271
theory
cost
......................................................................................... "---
7.3 The 274
theory
essence resource-based
................ ........... ----........................ ----..... --.
7.4 The in field information 277
theory the
use of resource-based of systems
........... ---------
7.5 A to IS/IT
resource-based approach understand adoption and use
in SMEs.......... 278
manufacturing :..................................................................................
7.6 Comparing findings SME literature 281
the
with previous
7.7 A
to the
resource-based model understand successful adoption and
IS/IT in SMEs........................................................................ 283
use of manufacturing
285
7.8 Summary
and conclusions
.......................................................................................
CHAPTER 8- Research
conclusions
287
8.1 Summary
of research overtaken
... .... ,. _---- ..
289
8.2 Key findings...
research
.............. -
8.2.1 Research 1
question
8.2.2 Research 2
question
294
8.3 Contribution knowledge
to
......................................................................... ...............
8.3.1 Research
subject
..............................
294
8.3.2 Research
context
295
8.3.3 Research
method
Limitations for further 295
the
of study and opportunities research
-8.4
............... .............
297
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES
Appendix A- Case (check-list)
study structure
Appendix B- The
questionnaire
(iv)
LIST OF FIGURES
Chapter 1
Fig. 1.1 Research Context Model
6
Chapter 2
Fig. 2.1 IS/IT
18
success model
.............................................
Fig. 2.2 Understanding
strategic change
________________________________
Fig. 2.3 The initial fieldwork for IS/IT in SMEs
analysis of
______________________________________29
Chapter 3
Fig. 3.1 Structure for data data in NUD *IST 82
collection and analysis
Chapter 4
Fig. 4.1 Research 101
map
.................................................................................................
Fig. 4.2 The
the
stages of research
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------104
Fig. 4.3 Case 106
study selection criteria
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fig. 4.4 The NUD *IST in data 107
use of analysis
, __. .......................................................
Chapter 6
Fig. 6.1 The for 214
clusters analysis
--------------------"---...... ----"-------------------------------" -------"---..
Fig. 6.2 Alternative 231
clusters
.................... ".. _ _.. _....... -
Fig. 6.3 Classification factors IS/IT 235
of associated with success
.................. ............
Fig. 6.4 Factors IS/IT
affecting adoption and success
_________________________________ _____________253
Fig. 6.5 Relationships between key in A 55
actors cluster
................................ .............
Fig. 6.6 Patterns interactions between key in the
of actors process
IS/IT Cluster A 256
of adoption and use
-
------"---(cid:30)-------------------------------- -----------
Fig. 6.7 Relationships between key in D 258
actors cluster
.............................. ............
Fig. 6.8 Patterns interactions between key in the
of actors process
IS/IT Cluster D 259
of adoption and use
-
............... ............
Fig. 6.9 Relationships between key in B 260
actors cluster
............................... .............
Fig. 6.10 Patterns interactions between key in the
of actors process
IS/IT Cluster B 261
of adoption and use
-
...... ............
Fig. 6.11 Relationships between key in C 262
actors cluster
............................... .............
Fig. 6.12 Patterns interactions between key in
the
of actors process
IS/IT Cluster C 263
of adoption and use
-
(v)
Fig. 6.13 The influence involvement in IS/IT
of management adoption
264
and success
................................ ... """-"-----"-----"--""-"
Chapter 7
Fig. 7.1 Relationships between knowledge..,. 276
capabilities, competencies, skills and
Fig. 7.2 Analysis determinant factors IS/IT 280
the
of of success
...................................
Fig. 7.3 Analysis the determinant factors their link to the SME literature 282
of and
....
Fig. 7.4 A
to the
resource-based model understand successful adoption and use
IS/IT in SMEs 283
of manufacturing
...................................................................
Chapter 8
Fig. 8.1 The for 288
clusters analysis
................................................................................
Fig. 8.2 Classification factors IS/IT 290
the
of associated with adoption and success
...
Fig. 8.3 Relationships factors IS/IT 291
amongst affecting adoption and success
..........
Fig. 8.4 A
to the
resource-based model explain successful adoption and use
IS/IT in SMEs 292
of manufacturing
............... .........., _. _....... _........... _....
LIST OF TABLES
Chapter 2
Table 2.1 Summary literature IS/IT in SMEs............. 24
of the on adoption and success
Chapter 3
fieldwork
Table 3.1 Comparing literature
the
most relevant with preliminary
findings
..................
80
Table 3.2 Initial for
propositions case study analysis
....................................................
83
Table 3.3 Cross-references initial
of propositions to case study check-list
Chapter 5
112
Table 5.1 Characteristics firms involved in
the
of case study research
127
Table 5.2 FIRM 1:
summary
.................. "--....................... "-------"-...................................
135
Table 5.3 FIRM 2:
summary.
143
Table 5.4 FIRM 3:
summary.
149
Table 5.5 FIRM 4:
summary
........................................
........................
(vi)